Adaptable wire-bending machine



J. TUIT ADAPTABLE WIRE-BENDING MACHINE Dec. 5, 1967 6 SheetsdSheet l Filed May 1o, 1965 JOHN n// 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1965 HUHUHQUW o o o ..0 o o O O O OOO /VVE/TR. JOHN TUT Dec. 5, 1967 J. TUIT.

ADAPTABLE WIRE-BENDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheetl 5 Filed May l0, 1965 Dec. 5,1967 J. TUIT 3,356,110

ADAPTABLE WIRE-BENDING MACHINE Filed May l0, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 lsv/gig. Ibai Dec. 5,1967v J. TulT ADAPTABLE WIRE'BENDING MACHINE 6 sheets-'sheet 5 Filed May l0, 1965 Dec. 5, 1967 1. TUlT 3,356,110

ADAPTABLE WIRE-BENDING MACHINE Filed May lO, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lNvENToR. JOHN TU/T United States Patent 3,356,119 ADAP'IABLE WIRE-BENDING MACHINE .lohn Tuit, 3536 Latte Michigan Drive NW., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49504 Filed May 10, 1965, Ser. No. 454,274 2 Claims. (Cl. 140-71) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A machine for performing bending operations on wire workpieces through the action of extendable and retractable jaw assemblies in which the clamping action of the jaws is obtained by the action of a portion of the actuator responsible for the extension and retraction movement, and in which the retraction of the jaws is induced by the retraction movement.

This invention relates to the construction of machines for performing a series of bending operations at various stations on a wire work piece, and the preferred form of the invention has been developed to handle pieces of wire previously formed int-o a substantially coplanar sinusoidal conguration. The machine operates by grasping the loops of wire, and applying a succession of bends on transverse axes to convert the wires into a conformation suitable for vehicle seat springs.

The differences in seat dimensions between various vehicles make it desirable to accommodate the machine to variations in the location and nature of the bending operations, and the preferred form of this invention provides a series of operating units that can be mounted at selected stations on a frame. These may be re-positioned to other stations when the machine is to be converted to handle a different shape or size of work piece. The operating units will usually be adapted to perform one or more of the following operations: (a) Crimping; (b) twisting; (c) holding (for adjacent operations).

The several features of the invention will be analyzed in detail through analysis of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is an elevation showing a typical loading device for positioning a work piece preparatory to the commencement of bending operation by the machine.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary section of a vertical plane showing the frame of the machine, with none of the bending components installed.

FIG-URE 3 is a plan view of an operating unit adapted to clamping and twist a portion of a work piece.

FIGURE 4 is a section on the plane 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevation of the unit shown in FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section` on an enlarged scale showing the jaw assembly of an operating unit adapted to crimp the wire work piece.

FIGURE 7 is a section similar to FIGURE 6, showing the unit in the release position.

FIGURE 8 is a front view of the assembly shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, and showing the conformation of the jaws for crimping the wire.

FIGURE 9 is -a sid-e elevation of a unit usable for a twisting operation with xed jaws.

FIGURE 10 is a front elevation shown in FIGURE 9.

FIG-URE 11 is a side elevation of a simple form of operating unit that can be adapt-ed purely as a holding element.

FIGURE 12 is a front view of the unit shown in FIG- URE 11.

of the operating unit FIGURE 13 illustrates a typical pattern of a work piece the form in which it is initially received in the machine FIGURE 14 illustrates a typical series of bends that may be applied to the work piece by the machine, to produce the conformation necessary for a spring element of a vehicle seat.

The components of the machine illustrated in the FIG- URE l are mounted on a frame generally indicated at 20 best shown in FIGURE 2. The principal components of this frame are the pairs of mounting rails 21-22 and 23-24. These rails are all arranged preferably parallel to each other, and are mounted on a supporting structure which includes horizontal beams 25-26 and suitable leg structure as shown at 27 and 2S in FIGURE 2. The rails 21 and 22 are maintained in xed relationship to each other by the plates 29 an-d 30, and these are extended upwardly above the rail 22 to provide a mounting area for the beams 31 and 32 which form a part of the -automatic feeding mechanism. The selector generally indicated at 33 in FIGURE 1 is supported by a bracket 34 secured to the rail 24; and the function of the selector is to pick up a wire work piece 35 with a magnetic head generally indicated at 36 from the storage and feeding device 37, and place it in position for engagement by the jaw `assemblies 38 and 39 of the machine. In moving the work pieces 35 from the feeding device 37 into the position shown in FIGURE l, the structure associated wtih the head 36 rotates about the shaft 40 supported by the fixed structure 41. This rotation amounts to a sector of approximately degrees clockwise from the position shown in FIGURE l. The feeding and selector mechanism form no part of the present invention, and form the subject matter of my application Ser. No. 143,814, led on Oct. 9, 1961, now aban- `cloned.

The jaw assemblies 38 and 39 are components of a group `of operating units mounted at selected positions along the rails 21-24. To facilitate the placement of these units at positions corresponding to particular work pieces, the rails are perforated at closely-spaced positions as shown in FIGURE 2 to receive bolts or screws as shown at 42 and 43 in FIGURE 5, `and at 44-45 in FIGURES 6 and 7. Each of the operating units preferably includes a mounting plate as shown at 46 and 47 secured to the frame rails by` these bolts, and also a horizontal beam 48 (refer to FIGURES 6 and 7) carrying a horizontal actuating cylinder 49. The function of these cylinders is to extend the jaw assemblies (to the right, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7), or retract them through the interconnection of the cylinder rods 50 with the members 51. This connection is preferably through threaded engagement, and the lock nut 52 shown in FIGURES 6 rand 7 is preferable in order to secure the adjusted relationship between the rod 50 and the member S1.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show the basic mechanism for a closeable-releasable jaw assembly actuated by the same movement of the cylinder rod 50 which extends and retracts the jaw assembly between the positions shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. The jaw members S3 and 54 are pivotally mounted on a carrier S5 which slides within the bearing 56 secured to the plate 46. The jaw members have portions as shown at 57 and 58 which support the rollers 59 and 60 on the pins 61 and 62. The carrier 55 is generally cylindrical, but is slotted to accommodate the jaw members 53 and 54, including the extensions 57 and 58 and the associated rollers. The pivot pin 63 traverses opposite portions of the jaw member S3 and 54, and also the opposite sides of the carrier 55.

The member 51 is connected to the carrier 55 with a lost-motion connection determined by the inner engagement of the transverse chordal pin 64 with the iiattened side surface 65 (refer to FIGURE 7). In the extended position shown in FIGURE 6, the movement of the mem- ,of coplanar relationship.

. may utilize ber 51 to the right will move the entire assembly associated with carrier 55 to the extended position, and will then bring the wedge 66 between the rollers 59 and 60 to induce a separation between them, and thus close the jaw members 53 and 54. Movement to the left of the rod 50 will first withdraw the wedge 66, and will then exert a pulling action on the transverse pin 64 which will retract the carrier and its associated structure to the FIGURE 7 position, after having opened the jaw 53 and 54. The opening action is generated by the engagement of the extensions 57 and 5S with the bevelled portions of the carrier 55, as shown in FIGURE 6. The closing movement of the jaws may be used simply to grip the work pieces 35, or may produce a crimping action at the ends of the loops of the work pieces by a conformation of the jaws as shown in FIGURE 8. The generally V shaped figuration of the surfaces 66, 67 and 68, 69 will perform a positive crimping action when the jaw assembly is in the position shown in FIGURE 6.

In addition to the crimping or holding generated by the movement shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, a rotary action may be imparted to the looped portions of the work piece 35 by the mechanism best shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 5. The jaw assembly '70 is constructed as shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7. The wedge 71, however, is mounted on the shaft 72 which is splined to the carrier 73. FIGURE 4 illustrated the operating unit in the retracted condition. In the extended position, the shaft 72 is urged to the right by the rod 74 of the actuating cylinder 75 through the coupling 76. This movement induces movement to the right of the carrier 73 until the thrust bearing assemblies 7'7 engage the block 78. This action will halt the movement of the carrier, and the continued movement of the shaft 72 will bring the wedge between the rollers of the jaw assembly inthe manner previously dest tlbed.

Rotation of the jaw assembly is accomplished through the action of the gear 78 secured to the shaft '72, and supported in suitable bearings mounted in the blocks '79 and 80. The gear, in turn, is rotated by the rack 81 driven by the vertical actuating cylinder S2 mounted on the plate 83 secured to the horizontal plate 84. The gusset plate 85 is secured to both the plates S3 and 84, and to the mounting plate 4'7. The amount of rotation of the jaw assembly 70 may be controlled with precision by adjustment of the stop S6 mounted on the shelf 87 secured to the plate 83. The lower end 88 of the piston rod S9 engages the top of the stop S6, and thus limit-s the stroke of the piston within the cylinder 82. The upper end of the piston rod 89 is secured to the rack 81 in threaded engagement, and locked by the nuts 90. It is preferable that the plates 79 and 80 be extended laterally as shown in FIG- URE to provide a confinement for the sliding movement of the rack 81.

In accommodating the machine to a particular work piece 35, the position of the operating units is established directly opposite the groups of the initially coplanar work piece shown in FIGURE 13. The twisting and bending operations are then performed in the desired sequence, keeping in mind that each of these operations are to be done in the plane of the initial form of the work piece. This establishes the sequence of the bends, and also requires that the previous operations be released before the formation of bends which change the work piece out This sequence of operations is controlled by suitable conventional control mechanism (not shown).

FIGURES 9 and fixed jaws that have illustrate operating units which no clamping action. The jaws 91 are fixed with respect to the slide member 92 positioned by the rod 93 of the horizontal actuating cylinder 94. The vertical actuator 95 positions the rack 96,

and rotates the member 92 in the manner previously described in connection with FIGURE 4. The stop assembly 97 is also of similar construction, and the actuating cylinders are supported by the plates 98 and 99 in the manner previously described. With this arrangement, the jaws 91 may be extended and retracted, and also rotated. In situations where mounting space is at a premium, the jaws 91 may be mounted eccentrically with respect to the member 92, as shown in FIGURE 10. As in all of the other operating units, it may be desirable to incorporate recesses or key ways as shown at 100 and 101 to assist in locating the operating units with respect to the frame. The operating units shown in FIGURES 11 and 12 may be used where a retractable holding jaw is necessary to hold the work piece so that the twisting operations can be performed at adjacent stations. The plate 102 is normally mounted on the frame, and also supports the bearing structure indicated at 103. The xed jaws 104 are mounted on the member 105, which is movable to extended and retracted position by the rod 106 of the cylinder 167. This cylinder is mounted on the horizontal plate 193, and it will be noted that most of these mounting components are utilized with slight modification in all of the various forms ofthe operating members.

I claim:

l. A machine for performing a series of bending operations in sequence on a wire workpiece, said machine having a main frame with a mounting rail, and including a plurality of forming units with extendable and retractable jaws mounted on said rail, wherein the improvement comprises:

bearing sleeve means mounted on said rail',

a tubular carrier mounted in said bearing sleeve means for at Ileast axial movement, said carrier having a slotted end portion receiving portions of said jaw members',

fulcrum pin means traversing said slotted end portion, and also traversing said jaw members at an intermediate point thereon to provide a fulcrum for the opening and closing movement of said jaw members;

an axial actuator for said jaw members, said actuator having a member slidably mounted in said tubular carrier, and having a lost-motion axial connection with said carrier, said actuator member including a wedge portion engageable and disengageable between portions of said jaw members within the movement provided by said lost-motion connection to induce rotation of said jaw members about said fulcrum pin means to generate clamping action, said jaw members being rotatable in the opposite direction by cam engagement of said jaw member portions with the end of said bearing sleeve means to urge said jaw member portions radially inward as said carrier is retracted by said actuator.

2. A machine as dened in claim 1, wherein said carrier is rotatable about the axis thereof, and said machine also includes a rotary actuator for moving said carrier rotatively between limit positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,850,926 9/1958 Iobe 269-34 3,104,685 9/1963 Gonia et al 140-71 3,141,481 7/1964 Gonia et al 140--71 3,202,185 8/1965 Gonia et al 140-71 RICHARD I HERBST, Primary Examinez'. E. M. COMBS, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A MACHINE FOR PERFORMING A SERIES OF BENDING OPERATIONS IN SEQUENCE ON A WIRE WORKPIECE, SAID MACHINE HAVING A MAIN FRAME WITH A MOUNTING RAIL, AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF FORMING UNITS WITH EXTENDABLE AND RETRACTABLE JAWS MOUNTED ON SAID RAIL, WHEREIN THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISES: BEARING SLEEVE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID RAIL; A TUBULAR CARRIER MOUNTED IN SAID BEARING SLEEVE MEANS FOR AT LEAST AXIAL MOVEMENT, SAID CARRIER HAVING A SLOTTED END PORTION RECEIVING PORTIONS OF SAID JAW MEMBERS; FULCRUM PIN MEANS TRAVERSING SAID SLOTTED END PORTION, AND ALSO TRAVERSING SAID JAW MEMBERS AT AN INTERMEDIATE POINT THEREON TO PROVIDE A FULCRUM FOR THE OPENING AND CLOSING MOVEMENT OF SAID JAW MEMBERS; AN AXIAL ACTUATOR FOR SAID JAW MEMBERS, SAID ACTUATOR HAVING A MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID TUBULAR CARRIER, AND HAVING A LOST-MOTION AXIAL CONNECTION WITH SAID CARRIER, SAID ACTUATOR MEMBER INCLUDING A WEDGE PORTION ENGAGEABLE AND DISENGAGEABLE BETWEEN PORTIONS OF SAID JAW MEMBERS WITHIN THE MOVEMENT PROVIDED BY SAID LOST-MOTION CONNECTION TO INDUCE ROTATION OF SAID JAW MEMBERS ABOUT SAID FULCRUM PIN MEANS TO GENERATE CLAMPING ACTION, SAID JAW MEMBERS BEING ROTATABLE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BY CAM ENGAGEMENT OF SAID JAW MEMBER PORTIONS WITH THE END OF SAID BEARING SLEEVE MEANS TO URGE SAID JAW MEMBER PORTION RADIALLY INWARD AS SAID CARRIER IS RETRACTED BY SAID ACTUATOR. 